Ice release apparatus



Dec. 21, 1943. R. M. STORER 2,337,071

' ICE RELEASE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 28, 1940 -23 g0 V 22 I /6 T .39

INVENTOR. RICH/"P0 IV- 8703f]? 1 ATTO NEY, I

Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNITED STATES li ATENT OFFICE ICE RELEASE APPARATUS Richard M. Storer, Denver, 0010.

Application October 28, 1940, Serial No. 363,168

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improved means for harvesting ice from a tray or the like, in which it is formed, and more particularly relates to the harvesting of ice from the containers of mechanical refrigerators of the domestic type. The present invention is an improvement over the disclosure contained in my co-pending application Serial No. 283,383, filed July 8, 1939, and entitled Method and means of harvesting ice.

For certain purposes it is preferable to obtain ice in individual pieces of substantial size and irregular shapes, and under other circumstances, it may be preferable to provide ice in smaller pieces or chips.

So-called ice cubes or blocks as ordinarily formed in domestic mechanical refrigerators are not always of optimum proportions and the present invention is intended to provide improved means whereby pieces of ice may be harvested from such a source, in selective sizes. According to the present inventive concept, ice is formed in a body or bodies that are somewhat larger than would ordinarily be used for common domestic purposes, then pieces are separated from these ice bodies in the sizes desired.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide improved means whereby pieces of ice may be separated from a body of ice in a tray or the like, in selected sizes.

Another object is to provide such a, mechanism that automatically moves adjacent the body of ice in steps of predetermined lengths, in order automatically to position itself after each ice-separating operation, for the next ice-separating action.

A further object is to provide in such mechanism, means for changing the length of the steps above referred to.

A still further object is to provide mechanism for separating pieces of ice from an ice body, that operates with a minimum of physical effort.

Other objects and advantages reside in details of design and construction which will be more fully disclosed in the following description and in the drawing wherein like parts have been similarly designated and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of mechanism that is built according to this invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1 and illustratin the mechanism in one of its operating positions;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Figure 2, but illustrating the mechanism in another operating position; and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In order to disclose an operative reduction to practice of this invention, the drawing which forms a part hereof, will be described in some particularity. However, the present illustration is a typical example and should not be construed to express or to imply any limitation to the invention, the scope of which is, in reality, measured by the appended claims.

In the drawing, reference character I 5 denotes a freezing tray of a size and shape to fit into the freezing compartment of a mechanical refrigerator. Removably positioned within the tray I5 is the ice-separating mechanism hereinbefore referred to. This mechanism, in the present example, includes a central longitudinal element It which consists of a wall member i! and a thicker rib or rail l8 along the top edge thereof. The rib or rail i8 projects laterally to both sides of the Wall I1, and on one side is provided with a series of rack-like teeth l9. The wall I! is connected with a bottom plate 20 which ordinarily is positioned on the bottom of the tray [5.

A slide 2| is provided with an internal longitudinal slot so that it may be slid onto the rib l8 at an end thereof; in the present example, the right end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. An operating lever handle 22 is pivoted at 22a to the slide 2| and is provided for manual operation.

Pivoted to the lever 22 is the ice-separating element 23 which comprises a backing member 24 having a central offset portion 25 and having a series of downwardly projecting picks 25. The pivotal connection of this element 23 is represented at 21.

A link 28 is pivoted at 29 to the offset 25 of the back 24 of element 23, and is also pivoted at 39 to the slide 2! for the purpose of holding the ice-separating element 23 in a substantially vertical position, as illustrated, regardless of the anguiar position of the pivotal lever 22.

A thumb screw 3! is threaded through the lever 22 in a position to contact the link 28 at a predetermined position of angular elevation of said lever 22. The screw 3! thus serves the useful purpose of providing a selective limitation for upward angular movement of the lever 22.

A pawl element 32 is pivoted at 33 to the lever handle 22 and is positioned and adapted to engage at certain times, teeth is thorugh the intermediary of a tooth 34 that is an integral part of the pawl.

The pawl element 32 has a hook-like extremity 35 that limits downward pivotal movement, of

the pawl under some circumstances, by engaging the upper portion of the rib l8. This pawl element 32 is further provided with a rounded portion 36 that is positioned to bear against a leaf spring El carried upon the slide 2! whereby the pawl is urged upwardly, i. e., into engagement with the rack teeth H9, in some positions of the lever handle 22.

In use, water or other liquid to be frozen is placed in the tray [5, as usual, and the tray is then placed in the freezing compartment of the refrigerator. In the present example, two bodies of ice will be formed in the tray, one at either side of the central longitudinal wall member H. The central positioning of the longitudinal element E is facilitated by means of recesses 38 and 39 in the respective upstanding ends of the tray l5. Within these recesses may be provided longitudinally extending notches for the reception of projecting and overhanging ends lie and l'lb of the longitudinal wall ll.

After the contents of the tray it have been frozen and when it is desired to harvest pieces of ice from the ice bodies thus formed, the tray is removed from the refrigerator and upward angular movement of the lever handle 22 raises the picks 26 vertically out of the ice. Preferably, the actuating mechanism is positioned adjacent the left end of the freezing tray as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 of the present example, prior to the freezing step.

Figure 2 illustrates the position of the various components of this mechanism as they would appear with the lever handle 22 partially elevated about its pivot 22a. During the initial elevation of the lever handle 22, the leaf spring 3? acts upon the pawl 32 through rounded shoulder 36 thereof to urge it upwardly, thus to engage the rack teeth IS on the central longitudinal element it. As upward angular movement of the lever handle 22 continues, the slide 2| will be drawn toward the point of engagement of the pawl 32 with the rack teeth [9, which movement will continue until the link 23 contacts the limiting screw 3: which stops the upward angular movement of the lever handle 22. After the spring 31 has operated to engage the pawl 32 in the rack teeth is, continued upward movement of the lever handle 22 will lift the rounded portion 36 of the pawl element 32 above and away from contact with spring 37, but by this time, the force being transmitted from the pawl to the rack teeth is suiiicient to hold the pawl in engagement with the rack until the lever handle is moved downwardly. As the lever handle 22 is lowered, the pawl 32 will move downwardly out of engagement with the rack, which downward movement will be limited by the hook-like extremity of the pawl.

Since the slide 21 has been moved longitudinally toward the right, as viewed in Figures 1 and 2, the entire lever handle and the ice-separating element 23 have also been moved so that, upon lowering of the handle 22, th picks it will contact the ice at a place to the right of the position wherefrom they were lifted out of the ice. Thus is provided a new bite for the picks 26 into the ice bodies, and it is manifest that the distance travelled by the mechanism along the central longitudinal element it may be selectively determined, within the limits of the device, by the position of the limiting screw 3!. If relatively large pieces of ice are to be separated from the main body, then the limiting screw 3! is set to permit a relatively large angular movement of the lever handle 22. On the other hand, if smaller pieces of ice or chips are preferred, then the screw 3! may be set inwardly to permit a still more limited angular movement of the handle 22 and thus limit the longitudinal advance or step forward of the ice-separating element 23.

The tendency for this actuating mechanism, together with the central longitudinal element l 6, to raise when the ice-separating element 23 is forced downwardly, is overcome by bottom plate 20 which, as hereinbefore pointed out, is connected with central longitudinal wall ill and is positioned under the ice bodies.

A further consideration that is of importance is that, due to the solidity of the ice body, provision must be made whereby downward movement of the picks 25 after they have contacted the ice body must be maintained without further forward advance thereof. This has been provided for, in that when the picks it begin to enter the ice and cannot mov further forward, which they normally would because of the downward angular movement of their pivotal connection at 21 with the lever handle 22 the slide 2! is forced to move backward, i. e., to the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 2.

The leaf spring 3'! normally provides a factor of friction with the rack teeth 19 to stabiliz the relative position of the slide 2i, but permitting the aforesaid backward and forward sliding movement of said slide when force is applied tzhereto by angular movement of the lever handle Figure 3 illustrates the relative position of the various components as they appear when the lever handle 22 has just started to move downwardly. In this position, pawl 32 has fallen out of engagement with teeth l9, and pick 26 are about to enter the ice body, not shown, whereupon slide 2i will begin to move backwardl or to the left as viewed in this figure.

Thus is provided mechanism that readily may be used for separating pieces of ice of selected sizes from a body of ice, with a minimum of physical effort, and which automatically moves or steps forwardly adjacent the ice body to reposition itself after each ice-separating movement, for the next ice-separating operation. The lengths of the forward steps are selectively controllable by positioning the thumb screw 3 5.

When the slide 2! with its associated mechanism is initially positioned on the ribs 18 of the central longitudinal element iii, the lever handle 22 is pressed completely down, thus holding the pawl element 32 out of engagement with rack teeth I9 and bringing shoulder 32a of the pawl element 32 against the leaf spring 3'!" to hold it also away from contact with the rack teeth 59. In this depressed position of the lever handle 22, the slide and its associated mechanism readily and freely may be slid onto the rib it from the right end thereof as viewed in Figures 1 and 2. A stop ll] is provided adjacent the opposite or left end of the rib E8 to prevent the slide 21 from being inadvertently moved beyond that end of the rib 18.

The lever handle 22 may, if desired, be pro vided with a finger gripportion 22b to facilitate handling the lever, which is most conveniently operated by the hand of the user being placed over the lever from the left end towards the right end as viewed in Figures 1 and 2 of the instant example.

Obviously, the siz of the pieces of ice that are separated from the main ice body as the picks 2-3 are forced downwardly thereinto, will be in proportion to the distance the picks have been moved toward the ice body from the end thereof. This range in siz will depend upon the capacity of the mechanism, but it will be seen that this size range extends from pieces of relatively large proportions to quite small pieces or chips, as desired.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an ice tray, of iceseparating mechanism associated therewith comprising a tray-supported rail, a lever handle mounted for sliding movement along said rail, a pawl on the lever handle and adapted to grip the rail, means positioned to urge said pawl toward said rail for gripping the rail, and an ice separating mechanism connected with said lever handle.

2. The combination with an ice tray, of iceseparating mechanism associated therewith comprising a tray-supported rail, a lever handle mounted for sliding movement along said rail, a pawl on the lever handle, means on the pawl positioned to engage a lower side of the rail, means positioned to urge such engagement, and an ice-separating mechanism connected with said lever handle.

3. The combination with an ice tray, of a 1ongitudinal wall member removably positioned in said tray, a series of rack-like teeth on said wall member, a bottom plate connected with said wall member, a pivotal lever slidably carried upon said wall member, a pawl pivoted to the lever handle in a position to engage said teeth, means positioned for urging the pawl into such engagement, an ice-separating element pivotally mounted on said lever handle, and manually selective means for limiting angular pivotal movement of the lever handle.

4. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a series of racklike teeth, a slide mounted for movement adjacent said series of teeth, a lever handle pivoted to said slide, a pawl pivotally carried on said lever handle in a position to engage the teeth, means on the slide positioned to urge the pawl into such engagement, an ice-separating element having downwardly projecting picks pivotally carried on said lever, and a link pivotally connected with said slide and with said ice-separating element for holding the picks ina substantially vertical position independently of the operating angular position of the lever handle.

5. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a series of racklike teeth, a slide mounted for movement adjacent said series of teeth, a lever handle pivoted to said slide, a pawl pivotally carried on said lever handle in a position to engage the teeth, means on the slide positioned to urge the pawl into such engagement, an ice-separating element having downwardly projecting picks pivotally carried on said lever, a link pivotally connected with said slide and with said ice-separating element for holding the picks in a substantially vertical position independently of the operating angular position of the lever handle, and means connected with the lever handle constructed and arranged to selectively limit the angular pivotal movement of the lever handle.

6. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a wall member, a bottom plate attached thereto, a rib extending longitudinally along the wall member and having a series of rack-like teeth, a slide element on the rib adapted to move along said rib, a lever handle pivoted to said slide, a pawl pivotally mounted on said lever handle in a position to en gage said teeth, means positioned for sliding contact with said pawl to urge such engagement of the pawl, an ice-separating element having downwardly projecting picks and pivotally mounted on said lever handle, a link pivotally connected with the slide and with the ice-separating element whereby said picks are held in a substantially vertical position independently of the angular position of the lever handle, and a thumb screw threaded through the lever handle in a position to contact said link when the lever handle is angularly moved for limiting such movement in one direction.

'7. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a Wall member, a bottom plate attached thereto, a rib extending longitudinally along the wall member and having a series of downwardly projecting rack-like teeth, a slide element on the rib adapted to move along said rib, a lever handle pivoted to said slide, a pawl pivotally mounted on said lever handle in a position to engage said teeth and having a hook-like portion for contacting the top of said rib, spring means positioned to urge such engagement of the pawl with said teeth, an ice-separating element having downwardly projecting picks and pivotally mounted on said lever handle, a link pivotally connected with the slide and with the ice-separating element whereby said picks are held in a substantially vertical position independently of the angular position of the lever handle, and a screw threaded through the lever handle in a position to contact said link when the lever handle is angularly moved for limiting such movement in one direction.

8. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a wall member, a bottom plate attached thereto, a rib extending longitudinally along the wall member and having a series of rack-like teeth, a slide element on the rib adapted to move along said rib, a lever handle pivoted to said slide, a pawl pivotally mounted on said lever handle in a position to engage said teeth, spring means positioned on said slide to urge such engagement of the pawl in certain angular positions of said lever handle and to make frictional contact with said teeth in other angular positions of the lever handle, an iceseparating element having downwardly projecting picks and pivotally mounted on said lever handle, a link pivotally connected with the slide and with the ice-separating element whereby said picks are held in a substantially vertical position independently of the pivotal position of the lever handle, and a screw threaded through the lever handle in a position to contact said link when the lever handle is angularly moved for limiting such movement in one direction.

9. In a device of the character disclosed, the improvement which comprises a guideway, a slide movably carried on said guideway, resilient means on said slide positioned for frictional contact with the guideway, a lever handle pivoted separating mechanism; said mechanism comprising a tray supported rail, a carriage mounted for movement lengthwise of said rail, a lever mounted on said carriage, an ice separator carried by said lever and movable into disrupting engagement With ice in the tray, means operated by movement of the lever for shifting said carriage and lever progressively along the rail, and means associated With said lever for varying the 10 extent of movement thereof.

RICHARD M. STORER. 

